Rocking support



Aug. 19, 1952 H. H; wHEAToN ROCKTNG SUPPORT 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Filed oet.23,. 1949 INVENTOR. dfi, l BY J' 7u M HMHW@ AAug. 19, 1952 H. H. rwhiz-:ATQN ROCKING 'SUPPORT 2' Smm-SHEET 2 v Filed Oct. 28, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

i 2-2 0f Fig. 1;

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT rOFFICE Henry H. Wheaton,Verona,'N. J.

Application October 28, 1949, Serial No. 124,019

8 Claims.

l The invention relates t amusement andexercising devices of the seesaw,hobby horse, lor other rocking or oscillatory type.

This invention has for an object to provide an improved amusement orexercising devicewhich not only oscillates or pitches in the well knownmanner about a transverse pivotal axis or fulcrum, but also is capableof other motions and riding eifects that combine to increase thepleasure and physical benefits to be derived from its use by children.

Other objects are to provide in a seesaw device, such as is used by twochildren, means for producing certain specic motions and riding effectsthat simulate the action of a horse when moving with some characteristicgait, such as the trot or canter, and in another embodiment of theinvention, to utilize the improved seesaw construction as the skeletalbasis of a hobby horse to be ridden by one person.

Another object of the invention is to provide lthe legs of thesupporting structure of the device, in either of the optionalembodiments of said device, with novel resilient footing means .whichare yieldable to vertical vibratory movements of the device; and a stillfurther object is to provide the yieldable footing means in such formthat they do not need to be flxedly attached to the floor or othersupporting surface, but will serve by suction cup-like action to preventsubstantial horizontal displacement of the device during operationthereof. f f

A still further object is the provision, for use with either embodimentof the invention, of novel stirrup means having length adjustment meansvincorporated therein. Y

` Illustrative embodiments of the invention vare shown in theaccompanying drawings, in* which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a seesaw device of the two rider typeconstructed in accordance with the invention, showing in solid linesnthe seating member in a state of equilibrium, and in broken lines thedisposition of movable parts during oscillation or pitching movement ,ofthe seating member;

Fig. 2 ris a transverse sectional view -of line Fig. 3 isa transversesectional,view of the stirrup means taken on line 3 3 of 1= ig.l; y

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. on an enlarged scale,of one of the footing means, showing one form thereof;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, but showing another form offooting means;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the seesaw device of the one rideror 'hobby horse type; and Y Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section,taken on line 'l--l in Fig. 6.

Referring ynow to the drawings, in which like characters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in the several views, the embodiment o1 theinvention as a seesaw device for use by two riders in the well knownmanner is illustrated in Figs..y 1 t0 3 inclusive. In this embodiment,the'v seatingrmember I0 is pivotally mounted in the usual manner onsupporting structure II.

Obviously, supporting structure II may take any one of various forms, asimple form of which is shown by way of illustration in Figs. 1 and 2.In the form shown, supporting structure II includes a pair `ofsubstantially identical side members I2 that. may conveniently be made0f suitable material by well known manufacturing processes. Side membersI2 are spaced apart and preferably inclined downwardly outward to alfordadequate stability during the most violent riding motions. In thisrelative position, side members I2 aresecured together preferably by aplurality of suitably distributed cross members I3, at least two ofwhich, below the topr of side members I2, are positioned at the samelevel to provide a horizontal bench I4 for a purpose which willpresently appear. Y

rEach side member I2 of the supporting structure I I includes a pair oflongitudinally diverging vlegs I5. Each leg is provided with footingmeans IB for direct iioor contact which will be described alignednotches I'I at the tops of side members I 2 of said supportingstructure, and then resting in said notches I'lthe ends of a trunnionmember I8 that is rigidly secured to seating member I0 at the center ofgravity thereof by suitable means, such as socket member I9.

Itbeing customary for riders of a seesaw device to sit astride theopposite ends of its seating member facing each other, handle bars 20have been provided on the seating member in Vsuitably disposed relationto the ends thereof, in orderthat they mayy be grasped by the respectiveriders for aid Vin maintaining their seats and as means by whichassisting actuating impulses may lbe imparted manually to the seatingA.respective Adequate respectively `to the. adj a'ce'nt end Ame [milchlike horseback ri teeter-boards, as they are sometimes called. Inordinary seesaw devices, the seating member is free to oscillate withoutany restraint except that which may be imposed by the riders or byimpact of either end of said seating member with the floor or ground.Therefore, in order to avoid severe shock at the limits of movement ofthe seating member, it is necessary for the riders to touch the floor orground with their feet. In my improved seesaw device, tensioning meanshas been introduced to damp or shock-absorb the oscillating movement ofthe seating member I to the extent that the riders will be fully andsafely supported throughout the complete cycleof oscillating movement.All motion is smooth and cushioned during reversal without any necessityfor foot action by the riders. v

The tensioning means may take any one of several forms, but it ispreferred to use the simple structural embodimentdisclosed in thedrawings. As Shown 'particularly iii jl end 2, 'the tensioning ineensidr seatiiigineiiiber le comprises -a stiffr mainspring ,2l andcomparatively weak coupling springsfz that extend `[bel-.we'e'n saidImainspiti-ngV and the reseotive 'end portions 'of seating einher` 'I'Vat sui't'ablevdistances'from the pivot-al axis oi the latter. Mainspring 2|, iiitlie preferred form shown, le a long dat resilient bier er'iee'i spring that extends long'itudiirellybeiiedtli and-sp'aeedbeldwtiie seating' mer-uber rae-nd ifs centrally sii'ppdfted bytenen '14. nsuit-,able means, eden-'ee U-Slidded 'elaiupe 23, are usedte -elemp tire eeii'tral eert oiiuaiii spring 2| iix'edl'y te the 'drossmembers-ls that form teilen i4.

ei'eareii'ee for trie end pforti'eiisvei -seat- .ing member li), a'ndthe ymoet 'effective Vliens-ioning results therefor, 'are obtained byconstructing main retiring '2l ed `tliatjits erid portions curvedownwardly. nach eiipliiijg spring 22 is preferably inthe feriti er 'arielieal vpull spring, and has opposite 'ends attached insuitableguianner portions oi 'main spring 211 and seating member l0.Theierigth ileeli ebuiiliii'e eiiriiig 22 'elidiild Vte 'suele that'be'tlieaii euupliiig sii-ridge will be "axielly'distended 'and uii'derseine, tensidn, inV assembled rrelatidn to main spring 21 vand 'seatingmember,

when said seating member in 'a `state of horizontal equilibrium. Theprecise mistici-ding er the tensioning '-iilee'rlso'r seating member lowill -be subsequently described;

In order t'o afford 'maximum scurit-.rior 'riders of the seesaw device,handle bars 20 V'aire vsilpp'let'ezity stirrup inedite 2a' which arelocated in appropriate positions below said 'hand-le bars and Y iiidependent 'reiatidii te seating ideriitiegr my VJust fe'etlieli'aiidieb'ais '2o simulate bridle reins for .iidrseliaer riding, se dd'trie stirrdpiiiedne .'2-'4 A'eiiiiulate saddle Surftips, yBeth arevdesieiied te i'a'lie operational fuse 'di lthe seesaw device es nn'gaspossible. lth'ough g'iea't varia loni'n the physical 'structure ofthe stlrrjiriiieaiis 2l is permissible within Y trie is'e'pe di theinvention, it islpieferred te een- "2'215 in tire manner Shown l ve'. Inac'cordanefwth this red embodiment, alsubstantially 'Li-'shaped'stiffuairaiiie '2t ie xed in inverted pdeitioii to eridjpdrtitin dimain spring 2 l, wliierilejtter rs .straddled 'by 'seid frame 2t with`Vthe "l''tly upon 'main spi'i'ng'l. Apical portion 2'6 of stirrup frame25 is provided with a smooth 'surfaced vertical hole 21 that is adaptedto registr vfith a 'similar h'ole 28 iii main spring 2| at 4 the desiredlocation for slidable reception of a stirrup hanger member 29, whichpreferably is in the form of a metallic rod of suitable cross-section,and which is-capiable of longitudinal movement relative to the stirrupframe 25 and main spring member 2|, thus corresponding in function tothe stirrup leather of a riding saddle. Hanger member 29 isscrewthreaded at both ends land has a stop member 30 in the form of anut adj'ustably engaged with the upper' end portion thereof to limitdownward longitudinal movevment of said hanger member 29 relative to thestirrup frame 25. Through contact of stop member 3B with Ithe apicalportion 2B of stirrup frame 25, said mainspring is adapted to serve asprimary 'resilient suspension means for stirrup hanger member 29. Inorder toprovide auxiliary resilient suspension means for stirrup hangermember 29 which will be of less strength than the said primaryresilientsuspension means, a helicall pull spring V-3I is interposedbetween the upper end offstirrup hanger member 29 and the adjacent endportion of seating member I0 and is' connected between said stir-raphanger vmembl' '2 9 and th seating -ineinbi' I0 by suitable m'eansff-Io`cicirnrnlfete the stirrulp means 24, a horizontal sti-irip'bar 312 ismounted for vertical sliding movement in longitudinalguide slots 33provided-'in side ,portions =34 of 'sti'rrup frame 25 and is centrallyapertured 'for reception 'of the lower end of the stirrup hanger member29, which is se'cllr'edl'iii'edly to Ysaid 'stir'rup bar 32 by opposedil'uts 36 and 3l.A Stirru'p bar 32 has stirr'llps 38, which may beofan'y conventional For use in' connection with the seesaw device,wherein the 'usual two rider-s will be seated on the `elo-ngated andnarrow seating member lo at locations fairlyl remote from the`slpp'oi'ting structure II, so that said supporti-ng 'Structure will notbe -Straddled by the fri'd'er's, each stir'rup bal'. I32 may becomparatively sl'l'ort.I Therefore, it is praciorble 5to "I-llfakes-trrb bar 32 'from a short len-ether strap metal. hi 'order toincl-ease 'tire ity 'of lstlfrup 'bar 32, reduce the width oflguie`-slots 33, 'and -provide with 'bearing V.portions 32' ff'or t'rbear-ing icontact with the 'e'dges of 'said 1g" de slots, Sti up iba-'ry312 may be twisted in f the manner Bee-euse of Ythe twisted form of'stiriup bail' 32, 'the lower ends 'of guide slots order to permitreferentiee #character 39 designates the principal element, or hoof,whidh -is 'attached to the lower end of yeach l'eg |'5 ibysu-itablemeans, such las attaching b'olt 40. `Ho'offi is yin theform of aninverted cup the sole rim fel of' which is adapted to'beaij A'directlyupon the yfloor or otherl surface. HoofA 39 preferably fig madeorflexible resilient material, such as soft rubber or the ilik'e.V On'ereason 'foil'- inaking 1hoof 3970i fsoft rubber -i the Y'ence' 'to' thefloor or `'oiili'er l1'supporti'rxg surface under certain condition'sjdfoper'ation. sole yrim "4 i fw'ere absolutely ',fl'atwith l'all pointsthereof 'Uccidi arterftiie 'mst-vertidai :bounce of riding gap 43 isformed in sole rim 4I.

motion, regardless of amplitude, 'due to forcible evacuation yof airfrom the interior of hoof 39 between Vsole rim 4I 'and the'oor, duringthe downward Vcompression of side walls 42 of said hoof; vandsubsequentmaintenance of an airtight joint al1 around .the vsole rim 4I. Thissuction cup` action is desirable as a means forpreventing the' seesawdevice from' moving ,'away 'from the position chosen for operative use,but Ahasthe disadvantage that it interferes with intentionaldisplacement, as in the return of the device to a place of vstorageafter its operative use has ceased for 'the time being. It having beenfound that accidental horizontal displacement or shifting Voccurs onlyduring excessive bouncing caused by violent actuating impulses appliedto the seating member I by the riders, provision has been made avoidingsuction cup action during'normal bouncing of small amplitude. Atr thefront portion of each hoof 39 an upward offset vor cutaway 'Ihis `offset43 should be of just sufcient depth to maintain the front portion ofsole rim 4Il elevated from the floor during limited bouncing movements`that are not severe enough to cause'the undesirable horizontal shift ordisplacement. Under such conditions, an atmospheric vent will beprovided and no suction cupaction can take place during vibratorymovements of limitedl amplitude.

'While the softness and'flexibility of `the material of which hoof 39 ismade is favorable to thesuction cup action, the inherent resiliency issuiiicient only to tend to support the Weight of the seesaw device andits riders, as has already been stated. In order toA afford addedresilient strength and stronger elastic reaction and -thu's y enable thefooting means I6 not only to vafford adequate support under alloperating conditions, but also to contribute to desired vibratorybouncing movement', a helical reinforcing spring 44 has been fittedinside each hoof 39 in interposed relation to the top wall 45 thereofand an internal flange 46 formed on sole rim 4I. Reinforcing spring 44preferably conforms in shape to the side walls 42 so that itcannotbecome dislodged from confinement within the hoof interior.

The modified formv of footing means shown in NFig. differs from theembodiment just described in two respects. In the'rst place,yreinforcing spring 44 is imbedded in the side walls 42 of hoof 39instead of being nested therein. Secondly, the attaching means has beenaltered to permit some regulation of the resiliency of the topV wall 45of hoof 39. To this end the screw plug 41 has been substituted for bolt40 of the Fig. 4 embodiment. Screw plug 41, which has an enlarged head48, is adapted to be screwed into threaded hole 49 provided in the lowerend of each legI 5 of supporting structure Il. A circular aperture 50 isprovided in top wall 45 of hoof 39. This aperture' 50 is the same indiameter as the shank portion of screw plugA 41, except for a medialannular groove 5I that is adapted to receive the head 48 .of screw vplug'41 when forcibly inserted therein by expansion of the soft rubber wallsof aperture 50. When screw plug 41 is screwed more or less tightly intothreaded hole 49 in leg I5, head 48 0f said screw plug will compress t0desiredl degree, the portion of top wallV 45 interposed between head 48and thelower end of leg I5 and thereby harden or soften the said portionof top wall 45 so as to reduce or increase the give or amplitude ofresilient vertical motion thereof during operation of the seesaw device.Advantage may be taken of the regulating means just described to makedelicate adjustment of -the-clegree-of resiliency ofthe footing means I6in-relation one tor another, and' thereby determine the amplitude ofnormal bouncing lof respective footingv means within limits of whichsuction' cup action ofthe'hoofs 39 will notoccur. fl'- Referring now toFigs. 6 and '1, it will be seen that the `hobby horse embodiment of theinvention is an outgrowth of the seesaw/device, the incased portion Lofwhich is outlined in: broken lines. Practically the only modificationofthe supporting structure II Arequired'has vbeen m'od- 'eratehorizontal elongation of the upper por'- `tion thereof and thesubstitution of legs I5 which more realistically simulate a horseslegs.vr v"-Ihe seating member comprises two spaced side-byn side framebars I8 and I. shortened to flt in- 'side and support a simulated horsebody 52. After body 52ha s been rigidly affixed to the frame bars, thesaid seating member is thus Ygiven the form and appearance of a horsebody, so that the term seating member applies to both the relativelylong seating member I9 of the seesaw device of rFigQl, whichaccommodates two riders, and to the shorter and more massive hobby horsebody 52 which accommodates one rider. Main spring 2l of the tensioningmeans for seating member kconstituted by the horse bodyv 52 hasbeenjshortened for'correspondence to the lengthof the lframe-bars I8 andI8 thereof. Forthe'realistic effect, a bridle 54 and reins 55 have.beenl applied to the horse head appendage 56 of body 52. Reins 55replace handle bars 28 of the seesaw device of Fig. *1, `and likewiseserve as means for preserving rider balance and to assist in impartingactuating impulses to thehobby horse body.l A saddle 51 and its girth 58preferably are formed integral with body 52 in the appropriate location.The pivotal connection between hobby horse seating member and thesupporting structureA Il thereof, is constituted by trunnion member I8which is supported by and across the frame-bars' I0 and I9" so as to bejournaled in notches I1 of the supporting structure, and should belocated directly beneath saddle 51. The single stirrup means 24' ispositioned appropriately almost directly below the forward part ofsaddle 51 and yet far enough forward to obtain the resilient lsuspensioneffect of main spring 2l, to the forward end portion of which it isattached.v As shown in Fig. 7, Vit has been necessary to modify thestirrup means 24 slightly in order to make allowances for the increasedwidth of the seating means as constituted by horse body 52.V Thestirrups 38 must be sufficiently far apart to project laterally outwardfrom the sides of horse body 52 to external position wherein they areaccessible to the feet of the rider, therefore, stirrup bar 32 hasbeengiven the required length to such end. In ord-er to strengthen stirrupbar 32 in its velongated condition, a socket member 59 has been mountedabove the said stirrup bar for reception of hanger member 29 at a pointvertically spaced from the point of attachment of said hanger 7 changein construction yof seating member, .so susf pension-spring 3l is nowcoupled to saidseating member through the medium of plate 6l thatbridges the frame bars I' and i0" and which .is xedly secured in anysuitable manner .so .said frame bars.

lPreparatory to use of `either the ordinary .seesaW embodiment of theinvention or .the hobby horse embodiment, stirrup means 24 should .beadusted to accommodate the leg length of each rider. This may be donevery easily by screwing stop member downward to reduce downward movementof hanger member 29, and thus .to shorten the eifective stirrup lengthor upward to .increase downward movement of .hanger member 29., and-thus to lengthen the eiectivestirrup length. Furthermore, if acantering gait is to be attempted, by actuating impulses to .bedescribed later herein, the screw plugs 41 of the '.le-t .hind Aandright iront hooves 39, respectively, should Ibe .loosened in ord-er to.afford greater give to these hooves.

The operation of the vseesaw device should be .readily understood upon`further reference to Figs. -1 to 5. Without riders, .seating .member.is maintained the level position shown in vfull lines vin Fig. l1 dueto its .gravitationally balanced conditionand to the added stabilizing.influence of the tensioning .means .represented by main spring 2|and'coupling springs 22. VWhen .two riders .desire to mount seatingmember |50, all each 'has to dois to stand .at the left .of his selectedend of the seating member, grasp -the corresponding handle bar 20 withthe left hand, .place the left fool; .in

.stirrup `38 on the .near side, and then mount seating member i0 in thesame .manner vthat a horse .is mounted. .Itis advisable -that bothriders mount at the same .instant so .that their Weights will balanceeach other'. However, with the tensioning .means vfor seating member lItending to resist movement of the Jlatter, mounting is much `easierVthan in the case of a freely .movable seatingmember of a seesaw ofordinary type.

.As .in the use Yof any seesaw device, the .riders `have .to coordinatetheir .actuating movements, but the nature `and .degree of .force`ofsuch move- Aments is quite different in the operation .of the instantseesaw device. It has .already ybeen stated that no .ground vkicking .isrequired. When .one .rider leans backward at the same time .that .the-ether rider leans forward, seating -member lL!) will vrespond quicklyby pitching iin the direc- .tion -of the fbackwardly leaning rider, duetothe comparatively weak 4resistance to :such movement oftered .by .thecoupling .spring 22 .that is placed under tensionalstrain. AssumingVthat the rider `on .the .right end of seating `member I0 in Fig. 1hasleanedbackwar-d .(to .the right) .andthe .other rider has leanedforward (to the .right falso), coupling spring .-22 .at Athe right .endLof seating y.member Hl, fbeing .already .under static tension,

will contract .as the seating member pitches to `the right. The othercoupling spring .22, .on the contrary, wil-l .be .stretched by thelifting motion of the Vleft end of seating .member. .Further pitchingmovementof .seating member .I' toward -the right, as implled bymomentum-.of the riders 'bodies and possible addedmuscular exertions.and weight shifting .on their part, will 'bring main spring '2l in'toplay. 'The resulting upward .bendring of the le't endportion of mainspring 2l 'and 'the indirectly proportioned 'stretching and contraction.of the left .and right coupling 'springs 22 `respectively .arerepresented 'in broken rlines in Fig. 1. The vstronger*resiiience ofmain `spring 2l will resist accelerated pitching movement of seating"memberlll ,and eventually Will retard this lmovement with a softcushioningv 'effect'. which vwill beV 'followed by ypositive recoilingreaction that will lift the .rider von' the right end of :seating.member Il) and .start theV seating'mem# ber lil onpitching .movement inthe reversefdif rection (toward the left) with little or no assistanceon the part of the riders. .From then on. continued seesaw motion may bemaintained with minimum exertion. The pitching motion will vbe smoothand characterized Vby the inertia, of the seating member lHl that iscaused 'to .a great degree by the influence .of the tensioning means.The eiect of this inertia on the riders will be quite similar to theeliect .produced by the Vinertia of a horses body mass and muscularexerl'tions during actual horseback riding. Consequen'tly, the riders ofmy seesaw device will have to keep4 their seats by .consciouslybalancing themselves in anticipation 'of the forceful reactionsof the.seating member JI'D and its tensioning means.

In further .simulation of the realistic lInovemen-ts and forces ofhorseback riding, the action of .resilient ,footing means 'i6 will bebrought into play by the riders. 'By rising in their stirrups and`regaining their seats repeatedly 'in vproper rhythm, .as .in posting inactual equitation, the supporting structure vIl and surmounting .seatingmember .l D .as `a unit maybe causedto move with up .and down vibratorymotion, and thus to jog or'bounce up and down Ain simulation .of thetrotting gait of a horse. As a variation of this motion, by .alternatelyleaning .slightly to 'the rig-ht and left 'in .opposite direction, theriders may cause .the seesaw device as a unit 'to sway rin unison withthe other motions and thereby assume a simulated canter'ing gait,wherein the horses ee't tread the ground as follows.: '(1) 'left"hindfootg '(2) both right bind footandleft iront foot.; '(3) right.front rfoot; `and 'then the reverse (4) 'both right 'hindjfootandletront `foot; '(5) 'left hind foot. This valternate right and le'ftswaying movement of the canter is repeated continuously vandis a very,pleasant riding gait.

In the use .of the 'hobbyhorse embodiment .disclosed 'in Figs. '6 and 7'the ultimate 'in simulation .of Yactual horseback riding may beachieved. VIn this instance, of course, there will be a single rider.Due to 4his position directly .above the Ypivotal axis of 'the .seatingmember, which now includes 'the horse `body 52 as a unitary ,partthereof, the rider can induce pitching .motion quite .easilyby properuse .of reins 55 .andby 'forward and back 'leaning of body. Due vto theresilien't jfodtmjg means, the ,pitching motion is Vaccomp'anied .by'.vertica'l .vibratory movements,

' otally mounted -on 'said supporting 'structure 'for oscillatorymovements in vertical plane, a spring bar spaced 'beneath ,and.substantially coextensive with said seating member with its mid-portionvaffixed to the supporting structure, -pull-springs interconnectingYfree -end `portions 'of the spring hbarvv'ith corresponding free .endportions of the seating member, Jstirrup means 'dependent 'from theseating member and spring ban-"said supporting structure havinglongitudinally spaced y leg membersat its respective sides,:and said4leg members'terminatingin resilient footing means which are yieldableto limited. sway and up and down vibratorymovementsxof the supportingstructure during oscillatoryy movements ,ofy the seating member, eachrfooting meansI comprising an inverted cup-shaped body of resilientmaterial secured by` its top wallto the end of a leg member withitsgmouth rim adapted to contact the surface upon? which the supportingstructure stands, a reenforcing helical compression spring within saidbody,` and said mouth rim 'having a, cutaway portion normally out ofcontactwith said surface to provide an air vent in` communication withthe body interior,l whereby to prevent suction cup actionby the bodyduring up and down vibratory movements of the supporting structurewithin normal amplitude limits. f v

2. Ina device of the kind described as dened in claim 1- wherein thestirrup means includes a stirrup frame afxed to and dependent from thespring bar, a transverse stirrup bar vertically slidable in said frame,stirrup members carried by the oppositely extending yend portions ofsaid stirrup bar, a hanger member for support of the stirrup bar, saidhanger member being vertically movable in said frame, means to yieldablysuspend said hanger member from the seating member, and adjustable stopmeans to limit downward movement of the hanger member.'

3. A device of the kind described comprising a supporting structureformed by laterally spaced side members each having longitudinallydiverging leg members to provide the supporting structure with a fourpoint footinga seating member pivotally mounted on said supportingstructure for oscillatory movements in vertical plane, resilienttensioning means connected between the supporting structure and oppositeend portions of the seating member, whereby oscillatory movements of theseating member will be retarded as extremes of amplitude thereof areapproached, and said leg members of the supporting structure terminatingin resilient footing means which are yieldable to limited sway and upand down vibratory movements of the supporting structurel duringoscillatory movements of the seating member, each footing meanscomprising an inverted cup-shaped body of resilient material secured byits top wall to the end of a leg member with its mouth rim adapted tocontact the surface upon which the supporting structure stands.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a supporting structureformed by laterally spaced.

side members each having longitudinally diverging leg members to providethe supporting structure with a four point footing, a seating memberpivotally mounted on said supporting structure for oscillatory movementsin vertical plane, resilient tensioning means connected between thesupporting structure and opposite end portions of the seating member,whereby oscillatory movements of the seating member will be retarded asextremes of amplitude thereof are approached, and said leg members ofthe supporting structure terminating in resilient footing means whichare yieldable to limited sway and up and down vibratory movements of thesupporting structure during oscillatory movements of the seating member,each footing means comprising an inverted cup-shaped body of resilient.material secured'by its top `wall to the end of a leg member withf. itsmouth rim tact. with said 'surface to provide anr air vent incommunication with the body interior, whereby to-prevent=suction cupaction by the Ubody during up and down vibratory movements of thesupporting structure within normal amplitude limits. i l

5. A device rvof'the kind described comprising a supporting. .structureyformed by laterally Vspaced side members each having longitudinallydiverging leg members to provide vthe supporting structure-with a four.pointy-footing, a seating member 'pivotally -mounted Aon'said supportingY structure for oscillatory movements inY vertical plane, resilient.tensioning means connectedfbetween thesu'pporting structure and oppositeend portions of. the seating 'member, whereby oscillatory movements ofthe seating.` member will be retarded as extremes `of amplitude thereofare approached, and said legimembers ofthe f supporting structureterminating in resilient ments of the seating member, each footing meanscomprising "an inverted .cup-shaped body of resilient material securedbyV its top wall to the end of a leg member with its mouth rim adaptedto contact the'surface upon which the supporting structure stands, and areenforcing helical compression spring within said body.

6. A device of the kind described comprising y a supporting structureformed by laterally spaced Y sway and up and down vibratory movements ofthe supporting structure during oscillatory movements of the seatingmember, each footing means comprising an inverted cup-shaped body ofresilient material secured by its top wall to the end of a leg memberwith its mouth rim adapted to contact the surface upon which thesupporting structure stands, a reenforcing helical compression springwithin said body, said mouth rim having a cutaway portion normally outof contact with said surface to provide an air vent in communicationwith the body interior, -whereby to prevent suction cup action by thebody during up and down vibratory movements of the supporting structurewithin normal amplitude limits, and a reenforcing helical compressionspring within said body.

'7. A device of the kind described comprising a supporting structureformed by laterally spaced side members each having longitudinallydiverging leg members to provide the supporting structure with a fourfoot point footing, a seating member pivotally mounted on saidsupporting structure for oscillatory movements in vertical plane,resilient tensioning means connected be- '1'1 tween the supportingstructure and oppositezend portions of the seating member, wherebyoscillatory' movements of the seating member will be retarded asextremes of amplitude thereof are approached, and said leg members'ofvthe Yregulation of the resilient reaction ofthe footing means/ofrespective, leg members in relation 'one to another.

8., A device of the described comprising a supporting structure fom'nedby laterally spaced side members each having longitudinally'divergingleg Ymembers to provide'the supporting structure with aY four pointfooting, a seating member pivotally mounted on said supportingstructure'forV oscillatory movements in vertical plane, resilienttensioning means connected between the supporting structure andopposite. end

portions of the seating member, whereby oscillatory movements of theseating member will be retarded as extremes of amplitude thereof areapproached, and said leg members ofthe supporting structure terminatingin resilient footing means which are yieldable to limited lI2 sway andAup and down vibratory movements of the supporting Vstructure duringoscillatory movements of the seating membeneach footing meanscorrnorising an inverted cup-shaped body of resilient material,4adjustable'rneans cooperative 'with the top wall of each body both tofasten the same to a leg member and to predetermine the compression of'its top wall, whereby to permit regulation of the resilient reaction ofthe footing means of the respective leg members in relation one toanother,A areenforcing helical compression spring within each body,v themouth rim of each body being adapted to contact the surface upon whichthe supporting structure stands, and each mouth rim having a cutawayportion normally out of contact with said surface to provide an air ventin communication with the body interior, whereby to prevent suction cupaction by the body during up and down' vibratory movements of thesupporting structure within normal amplitude limits.

HENRY H. WHEATON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,637,693v Pratt Oct. 16, 19281,866,906 Rager July 12, 1932 2,111,891 Glamos Mar. 22, 1938 2,433,735Buczkowski Dec. 30, 1947

